UI cancer researcher Po Hien Ear receives grant award to study rare neuroendocrine tumors

Date: Monday, February 3, 2025

Po Hien Ear

Po Hien Ear, PhD, assistant professor of surgery, has received funding from the Neuroendocrine Tumor Research Foundation (NETRF) to study cancer drug resistance in small bowel neuroendocrine tumors (SBNETs).

Ear was one of six researchers across the world to receive an Investigator Award from the NETRF. Overall, the foundation's 2025 round of funding awarded 10 new grants for basic and translational science, totaling $2 million. The grant recipients were selected through a competitive and rigorous scientific peer-review process.
 
SBNETs are rare cancers with few medical therapies available for patients. In addition, existing treatment options are not very effective at eliminating the cancer because SBNETs have a unique tumor biology. Ear’s project will use the two-year, $270,000 grant to address the cause of drug resistance in SBNETs with the goal of developing a novel inhibitor to resensitize these tumors to FDA-approved anti-cancer therapies.
 
NETRF’s research and education programs are supported by financial gifts. Ear's grant is sponsored by the Carol DeBacker Charitable Trust.